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Schaumburg Illinois is home to the Woodfield Mall, which is the eighth largest mall in America. The development of the mall transformed the rural village of Schaumburg Illinois into a major urban development. Schaumburg is the home of Motorola, as well as only one of two IKEA stores in Illinois. If you are looking for a great Illinois shopping experience, Schaumberg is the place to go.

Schaumberg is also an excellent location for exploring rural Illinois history. Legend has it that the earliest settler in Schaumburg, Illinois was a man named Trumball Kent, from Oswego New York. In 1835, Kent founded a settlement that is close to what is now called Olde Schaumburg Centre, formerly known as Sarah's Grove. It was named after the grove of trees nearby and the three young women who lived near the grove., all of whom were coincidentally named "Sarah."

The first "recorded" settler in Schaumburg was Johann Sunderlage, who was a member of the survey team that divided Cook County into township. In 1836, after surveying the area, Sunderlage returned with his family from Germany. In 1842, the federal land sale allowed the Sunderlage family to purchase the land they lived on. By 1870, the Schaumberg area was almost completely German. Schaumburg remained under German ownership until the Great Depression of the 1930's, which caused foreclosure on some of the German-owned farms.

One of the popular Schaumburg restaurants is actually one of its popular attractions. The Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament takes place at Schaumburg Castle. Medieval Times creates a living link to the glory days of chivalry and valor and pageantry. At this Schaumburg restaurant, guests enjoy a hearty four-course banquet medieval style. Six brave knights compete in games of skill while riding magnificent Andalusian stallions. Prices include dinner and the show.

If you are looking for more traditional Schaumburg restaurants, check out Maggianos in Little Italy. It features classic family-style portions served on tables covered with red-checkered tablecloths. A Sinatra soundtrack plays in the background. The made-from-scratch menu features starters such as fried calamari, Parmesan garlic bread and Tuscan-style mussels to spaghetti with meatballs and manicotti with chicken and spinach. For desert, a piece of sweet tiramisu and a strong cappuccino help finish the meal.

If you are traveling with kids, Barnaby's Family Inn is one of the popular Schaumburg restaurants for families. They serve a variety of pizzas, as well as classic favorites such as meatballs and spaghetti and golden fried chicken.